San Diego Padres 2025 Draft Review: Few Early Picks, Mid-Draft Super Seniors, & The Last Prep Pick

[Theo Tollefson]

The Padres' 2025 draft went all in on college players, with 16 of their 19 picks coming from this year's college class. Building off that, nine of their 16 college picks were either seniors or super seniors at their campuses, making them hungry for older talent in the draft.  

Kruz Schoolcraft Breakdown
The Padres kept with their long tradition of drafting a prep player with their first pick in the draft for the ninth straight year, claiming LHP and first baseman Kruz Schoolcraft out of Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon.  

Schoolcraft is committed to the University of Tennessee, boasting a fastball that averages in the mid-90s and can currently top out at 97 MPH. His go-to offspeed pitch is a slider that currently tops out in the low to mid-80s. As of now, Schoolcraft is projected to be a better pitcher long-term than as a hitter. He's been scouted with a ceiling of being an above-average hitter, but as the top prep left-handed arm in this draft class. The Padres will likely work to keep Schoolcraft as a starter with the heat off his fastball. He still needs to increase spin rates both on his fastball and slider and add a fourth pitch to his arsenal. 

3rd Round Pick, OF Ryan Wideman
The Padres didn't have another pick after the 25th overall in the draft until the third round with the 99th overall. This began their long streak of drafting college talent, with their first pick out of their pool being outfielder Ryan Wideman from Western Kentucky University. 

Wideman transferred to Western Kentucky last fall and put up stellar numbers with the team in 2025, posting a .398/.466/.652 slash line with 10 home runs, 97 hits, 68 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 45 stolen bases, a single-season record for Western Kentucky's baseball program. His season earned him several accolades, including Conference USA Player of the Year and Conference USA Newcomer of the Year. 

He's considered one of the best athletes in the class, but still needs to improve his chase rate as he swung at over 40% of pitches thrown to him this season.

An Injured Arm in the 4th Round
The Padres decided to take their chances with RHP Michael Salina out of St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, with their fourth-round pick. Salina pitched in only four games with St. Bonaventure this season before being shut down for the season and undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, leaving him out for any playing time until 2026. 

The Padres are confident their player development system will get Salina on the right track for his recovery plan and have him out on the field by May of next year. 

Three Consecutive Super Senior Picks, Rounds 6-8
In the earlier rounds of day two, the Padres pivoted to use three consecutive picks to draft college super seniors who are all already 23 years old. Pitcher Jaxon Dalena out of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, third baseman Kerrington Cross out of the University of Cincinnati, and pitcher Jamie Hitt out of the University of Oklahoma. It's an interesting pivot for even the likes of AJ Preller and his front office, but if the Padres can get even one of these three players in the majors a year from now. It could be a successful move for them in this year's draft. 

The Last Prep Pick in the Draft, Truitt Madonna
The Padres made their last pick out of the 2025 prep class in the 11th round, selecting catcher Truitt Madonna out of Ballard High School in Seattle, Washington. Madonna is a UCLA commit. He played with Schoolcraft in the MLB Draft League this summer, already making him a good tandem to catch the Padres' number one pick in the minor leagues once they're signed. The Padres took a chance on Madonna as he had a .872 OPS in the summer draft league, citing it was a good sign for what he can do against the highest level of competition he's faced so far. 

Consensus on Padres 2025 MLB Draft Class
The Padres used this year's draft class to go all in on the older players on their board whenever their turn came to pick. With so many of their top prospects already in the farm system being 23 or younger, they are hoping to use this year's draft class to replenish the ranks in the lower to mid levels of the minors with the talent they selected this year. 

The most intriguing prospects from this class for the Padres will be Schoolcraft, Wiseman, and Madonna, if all sign with the team. Schoolcraft has the makings to be a big league starter, but he has to work on his balance while making his delivery on the mound. Wiseman will need to cut down on his chase rate and draw more walks as he enters the farm system. And Madonna will be challenged with the level of competition in the pitching he'll face in Low-A, but if he signs and gets paired with Schoolcraft behind the plate, he could make for a long-time career catcher for the Padres' most promising pitching draft pick since MacKenzie Gore. 

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